Drapery hanger



R. D. wlLsoN 3,399,713

DRAPERY HANGER Sept.3,1968

Filed June 24, 1966 INVENTOR. f6/,mm h//Z 5M BY l ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O Ff'ice 3,399,713 DRAPERY HANGER Reginald D.Wilson, 5025 Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore, Md. 21229 Filed June24, 1966, Ser. No. 560,283 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-348) ABSTRACT F THEDISCLOSURE A curtain structure is provided having pleat formers at the.upper and lower ends mounted on a support from the uppermost pleatformer.

The curtain structure of the invention comprises pleat formers at theupper and lower ends thereof characterized by a plurality of nestablehinged plates having a concave side and a convex side. The mountingmeans of the invention comprises a trackway, a plurality of supportsmovably mounted on the trackway and a continuous fabric supportcharacterized by a plurality of nestable hinged plates having a concaveside and a convex side.

The instant invention relates to supports or hangers for curtains ordraperies, and more particularly to a hanger which acts to createartistic folds or pleats in the curtain regardless of whether thecurtain is fully extended to close the window or whether it is drawn toone side thereof.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a curtainstructure in which an articulated strap is received by the curtain atboth the upper and lower ends thereof forming a series of artisticallyshaped folds.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a curtain supportincluding an articulated strap secured to the upper end of the curtainand connected to a series of movable supports for carrying the curtainin a predetermined path, the articulated strap insuring the formation ofartistic folds throughout the extent of movement of the curtain.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide an articulatedstrap for Iuse as a fold forming device for curtains, drapes and thelike, comprised of a series of concavo-convex sections hingeably securedto adjacent substantially identical sections for relative pivotalmovement from an expanded condition havin-g a sinusoidal configurationto a nested position in which each of the sections is substantiallyreceived by the next adjacent section.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide anarticulatable strap of the character described, which, when it is in apartially expanded position, forms a substantially W-shaped structurehaving curved legs to produce artistically shaped folds in a curtain.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in thecombinations of elements, `arrangements of parts, and features ofconstruction and operation, all as will be pointed out more fullyhereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there isshown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a curtain suspended from a wallby the curtain hanger of the instant invention, the lower right portionof the curtain being broken away to illustrate one of the articulatablestraps;

FIGURE 2 is a partial front elevational view of the curtain hanger ofthe instant invention illustrating the trackway, the movable supports,the drawstring for the movable supports and the curtain supportingplates;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the curtain hanger ofFIGURE 2 taken substantially along line 3 3 thereof as viewed in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

3,399,733 Patented Sept. 3, 1968 FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view ofthe curtain supporting plates of the curtain hanger illustrated in FIG-URES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the curtain supportingplates of FIGURE 4 taken substantially along line 5-5 thereof as viewedin the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the drawstring connected to each of themovable supports shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical enlarged cross-sectional view of the curtain `andsupport therefor shown in FIGURE l, taken substantially along line 7-7thereof as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the hanger of FIGURE 2taken substantially along line 8-8 thereof `as viewed in the directionindicated by the arrows illustrating the concave-convex nature of thecurtain supporting plates.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like referencecharacters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof,the curtain assembly of the instant invention is shown generally at 10having as its major components a trackway designated generally at 12, aplurality of movable supports illustrated generally at 14 mounted formovement in trackway 12, a drawstring shown generally at 16 for movingsupports 14 through trackway 12, and an articulatable strap designatedgenerally at 18 supporting a curtain or drapery segment illustratedgenerally at 20. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, strap 18acts to form a plurality of folds 22 extending throughout at least aportion of curtain 20. Drawstring 16 may be manipulated in aconventional -manner to separate movable supports 14 thereby drawingcurtain 20 over an adjacent window.

Trackway 12 is comprised of a C-shaped bar 24 secured by suitablebrackets (not shown) to a Wall immediately to the left of the deviceshown in FIGURE 3. Bar 24 forms ya longitudinal slot 26 providing accessto the interior of trackway 12 in which is positioned a slidable orrollable member 28 secured by a post 30 to the main body portion 32 ofmovable support 14. It will be readily apparent that each of supports 14is supported by bar 24 and is movable along the longitudinal dimensionof trackway 12.

As shown best in FIGURE 3, the lower end of support 14 is diagonallyangled to extend substantially beneath member 28 and post 30. The end ofeach movable support forms an opening 34 receiving one end of anS-shaped hook 36 therethrough, the other end of which supportsarticulated strap 18 as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Drawstring 16 includes a strip of material 38, preferably a long-wearingfabric, forming a plurality of slots 40 each of which receives ibody 32of movable support 14 adjacent the angled end thereof. Since each ofmovable supports 14 is interconnected by `drawstring 16, it will be seenthat curtain 20 may be pulled over the area desired to be covered in aconventional manner.

Articulated strap 18 is comprised of `a plurality of Curtain supportingplates 42 each of which forms an aperture 44 at the mid-point thereofadjacent the upper edge of strap 18 as may be seen in FIGURES 4, 5 and7. The pivotal or articulated connection between each plate 42 and thenext adjacent plate is provided by a fabric cover 46 extending betweeneach plate 42 and the next adjacent plate. As illustrated in FIGURE 4,this fabric covering is substantially continuous along the entire extentof strap 18 and forms openings 48 coaxial with apertures 44 in plate 42to receive the lower end of S-shaped hook 36. It is preferred that cover46 be adhesively backed to facilitate the attachment thereof to plates42.

A particularly important feature of articulated strap 18 is shown bestin FIGURE 8 where each segment, composed of plate 42 and its associatedcovering 46, is concavo-convex and having a radius of curvaturesubstantially equal to each adjacent segment. It will be apparent thatthe segments of strap 18 will be substantially nested together whensupports 14 are drawn close together. When supports 14 are spaced apartat their maximum distance, the segments of strap 18 form a series offlattened W-shaped structures similar to that shown in FIGURE 8. Ifstrap 18 lwere to 'be stretched out its entire length, it would form asinusoidal curve having a rather small amplitude.

Another important feature of the device of the instant invention is thatslots 40 in drawstring 16 are spaced substantially closer together thanapertures 44 in plates 42. It will tbe seen that this structural featureinsures the provision of permanent folds 22 even when drawstring 16 istaut and extended to its full length. Another measure of this samefeature is that the expanded length of strap 18 is considerably greaterthan that of drawstring 16.

It has been found that the concavo-convex nature of plates 42 readilyenhances the artistic effect of folds 22 when compared with the foldsproduced by straight sections or ogee sections.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, articulated strap 18 is received in a pocket50 of curtain 20 formed by layers 52, 54 thereof being stitched as at 56and 58. Layer 54 forms an opening 60 coaxial with openings 44, 46 toreceive the lower end of hook 36 to support strap 18 in curtain 20. Ifpreferred, the terminal end of hook 36 may reside between layer 52 andstrap 18, although layer S2 may be apertured coaxial with opening 60with hook 36 being received completely through the upper portion ofcurtain 20.

Another important feature of the instant invention resides in the use ofan identical articulated strap positioned in a hem at the lower edge ofcurtain 20 formed by a stitching line 62 as shown in FIGURE 1. In thepositioning of strap 1S at the lower edge of curtain 20, care should betaken to determine that the strip is inserted such that the concavity oflowermost strap '18 is identical with the concavity of uppermost strap18 to insure the formation of the desired folds. For example, theconcavity of plates 42 in FIGURE 8 is to the right and the concavity ofthe lower articulated strap should also be to the right.

It will be readily apparent that uppermost strap 18 maintains the foldsadjacent the upper edge of curtain 20 while the lowermost strap insuresthe continuation of the folds.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved curtain supportwhich accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the instantinvention and others, including many advantages of great practicalutility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, andsince many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinfbeforeshown and `described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A curtain structure comprising:

a sheet of fabric material forming substantially parallel pockets at theupper and lower ends thereof;

an articulated strap in the upper pocket forming folds Cit 4 y in thematerial extending substantially perpendicularly between the pockets;

means connected to the upper strap for engagement with a trackway forsupporting the curtain thereon; and

an articulated strap in the lower pocket;

the upper and lower articulated straps each comprising a plurality ofplates each having one convex side and one concave side, the convex sideof each plate being substantially nestable with the concave side of thenext adjacent plate; and

means hingedly connecting each plate to the next adjacent plate forexpansion into a sinusoidal structure and for collapse into the nestedstructure.

2. The curtain structure of claim 1 wherein the plates of the upper andlower straps are substantially equal in length for producing folds ofuniform dimensions.

31. The curtain structure of claim 2 wherein the plates of the upper andlower straps are faced in the same direction.

4. Mounting means for fabric curtains, draperies and the likecomprising:

a trackway adapted to be secured to a support;

a plurality of supports mounted on the trackway for movement therealong;and

a continuous support for a fabric including a plurality of substantiallyrigid plates having a convex side and a concave side, the convex sidebeing substantially nestable with the concave side of the next adjacentplate, each of the plates lbeing carried by at least one of the movablesupports, the length of the plates determining the spacing between thefolds in the fabric and the height of the plates being less than thelength thereof; and

lmeans hingedly connecting each plate to the next adjacent plate forexpansion into a sinusoidal structure and for collapse into the nestedstructure.

5. The hanger of claim 4 wherein the plates are at least partiallycovered with fabric material extending from each plate to the nextadjacent plate, the fabric is adhesively secured to each plate, thefabric interconnection between the plates constituting the connectingmeans.

6. The hanger of claim 5 further including means interconnecting each ofthe supports for expanding and collapsing the plates.

7. The hanger of claim 6 wherein the distance between the successivemovable supports is substantially less than the length of thearticulated strap between the successive supports.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,896 3/1887 Shinn et al.160-348 X 661,608 11/1900 Holtzclaw 160-3418 X 2,474,552 6/1949Steinmeyer 160-348 2,754,901 7/1956 Madsen 160-84 2,802,522 8/ 1957Collet 160-84 2,891,612 6/1959 Johnson et al 160-84 2,911,037 11/1959Wilson 160-229 X 3,090,431 5/ 1963 Stubblefield 160--348 X 3,196,9317/1965 Toti 160-183 3,312,273 4/ 1967 Adam et al. 160-84 X DAVID I.WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner,

